The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-06-02
Revenue Reduction.

From the Philadelphia Times,
Revenue reduction must come, and
it must come soon, or the party respon-
sible for the failure will be held in
stern accountability by the people.
Both parties gave their solemn pledge
to the people in their last national
platforms that there should be tariff
revision and revenue reduction; but
thus far the pledge is unfulflled,
The new Congress will not assemble
until December, unless sooner called
by the President, If not called by the
President in October or early Novem-
Der, there can be no reasonable hope
OF practical Tariff revision and reduc-
ton OF revenue until after the close of
another full fiscal year; and the pres
ent condition of the Treasury, with
its overhowing and daily increasing
surplus, clearly forbids such delay.
1t is now certain that the surplus
revenue that will be accumulated in
the Treasury at the close of the fiscal
year, will not be less than $75,O00,000,
and more likely to reach $10O,0OO,0OO.
in other words, we are taxing the in
dustrial and business energies of the
country from $75,000,000 to $100,O00,-
600 annually more than is necessary
for the maintenance OF the govern
ment, including provision for the pay
ment of the public debt. 1t is not on
ly an onerous axaction upon the thrift
OF the country, but it is an open invi-
tation to prohigacy in legislation and
to venality in every department of the
government.
Hitherto political theorists have
quibbled over Tariff revision and rev
enue reduction, and thus defeated
what all parties have promised the
people. That quibbling must stop
the plighted faith of parties to the ma
ton must be fulfilled; the revenues
must be reduced to the standard O
public necessities labor must be pro
tected while every monopoly featare o
the Tariff must be overthrown, and tn
free list must be enlarged to every ex
tent that will promote our genera
Observation-Disclosures. There are NOR
than enough Senators and Represen
tatives to pass honest Tariff revision
and revenue reduction, if they shall
exhibit courage in support of thei
convictions.
The assembling Of Congress in o.
tober or November would not be a
tended with any material increase
cost to the government, and why nc
call the new Congress to assemble i
October? There would be little c
nothing to distract Legislators for tw
or three months after the meeting, an
, there would be a reasonable chanc
for practical work. When Congrel
, meets in December, there is just notl
ing at all done until the middle
, January, and spring has come befol
= practical legislation begins. VIII
not give Congress a chance this fall
!, meet the vital issue presented by
9 surplus of $100,O00,000 in the Trea
4 ury?
The people need immediate reli
:, from needless taxes they need immed
!, ate relief from unjust discrimination
:. in taxation they need a more liber
/ policy to encourage home products |
d cheapening raw materials, and it
r time that quibbling theorists lea,
# how earnest the people are to stc
) the payment Of taxes which not on
n make the Trearury overflow with ST
N plus revenue, but which threatens Il
e tranquility of the business of the who
ID country, Let Congress be conven
early in the fall and let all part
gr stop Waiting around revenue revisi
le when the people must pay the pip